Long before the rise of video games and the world-wide web, kids were actually encouraged to use their imaginations while playing, and toys reflected that.
Seriously.
Presto Magix were simple to use, cheap to produce and brilliant in their ability to stimulate a rugrat’s creative side. There were dozens of kits ranging in variety from Strawberry Shortcake to Spiderman, each consisting of a character-specific background and a sheet of rub-on transfers.
All you needed was a pencil, a flat surface and opposable thumbs. Parents could keep their crazy kids occupied for hours with enough of these affordable kits. That left them plenty of time to smoke cheap dope and attend Key Parties down the block!
It was the Seventies, remember.
Presto Magix were perfect in their day: they certainly made less noise than violent, fast-paced video games and you could even do them outside at the picnic table.
Fresh air and an active imagination, what a combo!
I remember those kits. My daughter was a little too young for them but they looked like fun.
The sure were!
Oh I loved those things. My favorite toys back in the day were Silly Putty, a slinky and a Pogo stick. Those were the days I tell ya!
You said it!
I haven’t seen these in ages, but I can recall spending hours with them on long car trips. Thanks for the nostalgia to brighten my day!
That’s what I’m here for!
I forgot about those!
What was the toy where you could draw on the plastic and then lift the film and erase it? Loved that one too.
I can’t remember the name of that one, but you’re right, it rocked!
I loved my Etch a Sketch back in the day! AND I still think the 80′s cartoons remain the best of all time! I HATE the cartoons of today…they seem so dumb!
I think I remember this PrestoMagix or something very similar to it….oh, and who could forget Mad Libs? I would follow every adult around for hours getting them to help me fill in those stories!
That must have been hilarious!
I used to collect stickers.
Very cool!